About Us

Jason Trethowan. Community Advisory Committee Chair and Board Member

Jason Trethowan, Community Advisory Committee Chair and Board Member

Jason commenced as Chief Executive Officer at headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in January 2017. Jason has spent most of his career in the health sector where he has been driven by a passion to improve health services and access to care for all Australians. Before beginning at headspace he spent 18 months as CEO of the Western Victoria Primary Health Network and held previous CEO roles from 2007 with the General Practitioner’s Association of Geelong and Barwon Medicare Local.

Susan Sdrinis, Board Member

Susan is a medical practitioner and specialist medical administrator.

She has held roles as Executive Director Medical Services and Director Medical Services in Victorian public hospitals, and as a Senior Medical Advisor in the Victorian Department of Health.

Her interests are in the areas of clinical governance, medical governance and professional issues, and mentoring clinician managers and medical administrators in training.

Susan is also currently a member of the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner Advisory Council.

Virginia Todd, Board Member

Virginia has 17 years’ experience working across five departments in the Victorian Public Service. She has worked both centrally and in regions in strategic land use planning, the community services sector, youth programs and on community strengthening programs.

Virginia also has an extensive history in service redevelopment of human services programs including foster care, residential based care and family support services. Virginia has experience in local government having been both an elected representative and senior manager. Currently, Virginia is a Senior Project Manager in Regional Development Victoria, Department of Economic Development, Jobs Transport and Resources. 

Alison Lewis-Nicholson, Consumer Advisor Co-Chair

Alison started her working life via a Graduate program in Hospital Administration in the UK and after working in hospitals moved into Social work and Family Therapy. The majority of Alison’s career has been in Geelong in both public and private practice. Now retired, Alison is a volunteer in the Life Stories program in Barwon Health Palliative Care. Alison has an interest in how an individual navigates the large organisation of Barwon Health, to receive skilled and compassionate care.

Sharelle McGuirk, Consumer Advisor

Sharelle McGuirk is a Wergaia, Wamba Wamba woman (from North West Victoria) who has lived, been educated and based on Wadawurrung Country for over 45 years.  Currently employed with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as a Senior Policy Officer supporting the implementation of the Aboriginal Workforce Fund, Sharelle’s career has predominantly focussed on Aboriginal Higher Education and Aboriginal Employment.

From mid - 2018 until the end of May 2021 Sharelle worked for the Department of Health (& Human Services) in the Prevention and Population Health Branch, which included policy management, monitoring and reporting on Aboriginal Health Prevention funding programs and initiatives.   Prior to that she was employed by Barwon Health as the Aboriginal Workforce Officer to implement their inaugural Aboriginal Employment Plan and develop and launch their Online Aboriginal Cultural Awareness E Learning Tools.  Sharelle further assisted in the engagement, development, and implementation of both of Barwon Health’s Reflect and Innovate Reconciliation Action Plans. For almost 20 years she was employed at the (former Institute of Koorie Education) at Deakin University providing administration, emotional and cultural support to Aboriginal students throughout their Higher Education journeys. 

Sharelle is a current member and Traditional Owner at Barenji Gadgin Land Council in Horsham, is a long-standing member, former Chairperson (1.5 years) and Director (4 years) of the local Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative.  She is also a mother to four healthy, intelligent and assertive young women aged between 15 and 22 and hopes that they continue her legacy in being active Aboriginal community members.

Sharelle is passionate and committed to Closing the Gap and improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, more specifically in health, education and employment. She enjoys volunteering her time and is honoured and humbled to represent Aboriginal Consumer experiences and provide Aboriginal cultural expertise on the Consumer Advisory Committee. 

Bruce Butler, Consumer Advisor

"As someone who has been very lucky in life, I feel a duty to exploit that lived experience. There is no better place in Geelong to offer that experience than with Barwon Health. Being a consumer advisor with Barwon Health gives me an opportunity to advocate for members of our community who are not in a position to advocate for themselves." - Bruce Butler

Bruce is a carer and advocate for a disabled young man. He has also volunteered at the University Hospital Geelong in several roles assisting the public. These experiences have demonstrated some of the challenges facing many in our community.  Those challenges arise from many difficulties in diverse areas such as mobility, sight, hearing, literacy, poverty, mental health, obesity, remote living, language and cultural difference. Bruce is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers UK and he had a long career as an engineer and manager in the natural gas industry which has provided him with a rich vein of experience and insight.  That insight is informed by working with many different cultures in Saudi Arabia, Russia, Holland, Japan and Malaysia. 

Wendy Bourke, Consumer Advisor

Wendy has lived in Geelong for 45 years. Wendy has worked for 35 years in administration and now works for Ryman Healthcare Retirement Village in Ocean Grove. Wendy has been involved with committees of local sporting clubs and considers herself privileged to be a part of the steering committee that has overseen the implementation of an allabilities netball division with Geelong Football Netball League. It is important to Wendy that all members of the community are given the opportunity to be involved, heard and listened to. Wendy believes this offers an opportunity for growth and awareness for everyone involved. As a Consumer Advisor Wendy looks forward to using her past health experiences to encourage empathy and compassion to consumers of Barwon Health. 

Kim Edgar, Consumer Advisor

Kim is a librarian and branch manager by profession and prior to working in libraries she worked in the hospitality, aviation and health sectors. Kim’s involvement with Barwon Health has been as a patient and as carer to her three sons. She has a particular interest in mental health awareness, youth suicide prevention and advocating for family inclusive practice after losing her middle son to suicide in 2018. Kim is also an active member of the headspace National Family and Friends Reference Group and plans to undertake studies in mental health peer work.

Piper Knox, Consumer Advisor

Piper Knox is a proud Badimaya and Wajarri woman, born and raised on Waddawurrung country (Geelong). Piper completed her secondary schooling at Clonard College and in her senior years was in a leadership position as FIRE Carrier (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education). Piper began a school-based traineeship in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary health care Work at Wathaurong Health Service and continues to work in the role within her community. In 2022, Piper commenced a Bachelor of Midwifery at Australian Catholic University and looks forward to seeing where this journey will take her. Piper has been a representative in Youth Parliament and holds a leadership position with Koorin Gamatji Institute at Richmond Football Club. Piper is a member of the Short Black Opera Company. She loves music, singing, travel, camping and spending time with her friends and family.

Mutheinchri Ra, Consumer Advisor

Mutheinchri is from the Karen and Karenni community. She was born and raised in Thailand and spent 13 years in a refugee camp before arriving in Geelong in 2010. Mutheinchri has a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and now works casually at Barwon Health North as a receptionist and as an interpreter with Language Loop Vits and as a bilingual worker at Cultura. Mutheinchri previously worked at Werribee Secondary School as Multicultural Education Aide, assisting the Karen and Karenni students in the classroom and helping parents communicate with school teachers. Mutheinchri was a member of the Geelong Headspace Youth Future Crew from 2019 to 2021. Murtheinchri ran a weekly futsal program for young girls from CALD communities from 2017 to 2018. Mutheinchri is currently studying at RMIT to become a certified Karen interpreter. Mutheinchri is passionate about making healthcare accessible and more inclusive for people from refugees and non-English speaking backgrounds. 

James Bell, Consumer Advisor

James is a mental health Consumer Consultant at Barwon Health Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services. Here he applies his mental health lived experience by assisting consumers to be involved in their treatment, support and recovery planning and inform and enhance services responses to quality improvement initiatives and frameworks.

Prior to this, he worked in hospital administration and as a Health Information Manager elsewhere in regional Victoria, and before that worked in the financial services industry. He is a volunteer for the mental health mutual support and personal development group Grow and is passionate about mental health support, services and reform.

Carolyn Flett, Consumer Advisor

Carolyn's recent appointment as Lived Experience Consultant with Barwon Health has been one of the highlights of her career. She is thrilled to be working in such a valuable space and is looking forward to developing her skills, knowledge and understanding of mental health by working with a broad range of stakeholders.
On a personal note, Carolyn has experienced mental health issues and has been a carer for a person with mental ill-health. 
Carolyn moved to the beautiful Bellarine from Melbourne in 2019 and is really looking forward to building personal relationships and becoming a valued part of the community.